SPS Help

scoobyrs25

scoobyrs25

New member
So I recently dove into SPS keeping. I'm not good at it yet. Ya, that's the short version and I'll keep it there. I do weekly 10% water changes with Ocean Pure Pro salt. I have a 300 gallon tank with a 60 gallon tank to the side of it that I will likely sell soon. Both tanks are plumbed together and are skimmed by a BK300 external. I have 4 Vortechs and 2 Sea Swirlls. I have 4 250 watt Radium bulbs run by Galaxy ballasts. My current parameters according to Salifert kits and my Aqua Controller Jr.are as follows:

ph 8.39-8.27 (day, night)
kh 5.3
alk 1.87
Ca 410
nitrate 10
temp 79-75.9

I think I need my temps up, but every heater I've ever used ends up rather "shocking", so I turned on my house heater today since it's been so cold.

How do I get my kh/alkalinity up to 8 without doing an alky spike? I don't expect my nitrate level to go down much since I have around 38 fish, 7 of which are tangs.

I'm slowly losing some really cool corals and need this to stop. Please help.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
What kind of SPS corals are you keeping?

Nitrates might be a bit high for alot for colorful ones.

I suggest to always start with Monti digis, monti caps, and green slimers. I can give you a test frag if you like.
 
You need a heater, your fluctuating temps would be my second biggest concern. Purchase one of these also. My first concern would be the nitrates, sell some tangs :lol:

Then I'd worry about the rest. I use Kent's Pro-Buffer DKh liquid when low on Alk/Kh.
 
kh is low but his calcium is low also try to raise them both up say like a 9 on kh and 460 orso on the calcium also get those temps stable that helps alot ..
 
are you dosing or do you have a calcium reactor.

what is your magnesium reading at?

I would get some two part and add the alk part daily to bring your alk in line with calcium.

I dont think the temp is the issue, if it is between 76 - 79 you are fine.

I would increase the size of your wtaer changes to bring the nitrate down.

You are putting the Bk 300 to a test with all those fish:)

show us pics, of the corals you are having issues with, could be pests?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13974777#post13974777 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FiShTaCo
You need a heater, your fluctuating temps would be my second biggest concern. Purchase one of these also. My first concern would be the nitrates, sell some tangs :lol:

Then I'd worry about the rest. I use Kent's Pro-Buffer DKh liquid when low on Alk/Kh.
Click to expand...

Selling Tangs is crazy talk man! Maybe a bigger skimmer would be better.....

I bought a Spectra Pure Litermeter III to do continuous water changes, but Marine depot can't seem to get Spectra Pure to ship out the water exchange module. I figure constantly changing the water will help with stability.

I don't have a Ca reactor yet. I was under the impression my Ca level was ok and that my KH was only low.

Can you guys post your water parameters so I have a good idea of what to shoot for? Some of my corals that seemed stable only went south once I started dosing the recommended dose of Seachem Reef Builder. I don't want to burn the tips of my corals so I'm timid with this stuff.

I think ditching the 60 gallon on the side will help the skimmer do a better job.
 
you need to test your magnesium also. Also try to stay away from wild SPS colony try to find some aquacultured easy SPS to start of.
 
Definitly your ALK is a BIG problem.When I dosed Kalk I had trouble keeping the Alk up as the corals grew .It stayed below 7 for 2+ weeks and I started loosing corals that had been growing very well 'til then.
 
look into vodka dosing if your nitrates are high. i have 11 fish shoved in a 50g feeding 2-3x daily.
 
As fish590a mentioned, paying attention to magnesium is really important for SPS keeping; Mg levels really affects alk and Ca levels, they have an interconnected relationship... Try to keep Mg at 1250 ppm minimum (1250-1400 ppm is good)...
 
Good info. I need a Magnesium test kit. Will I damage the corals trying to bring up the Alk to the proper level too quickly?
 
Using the ocean pure Pro I am sure your magnesium is fine, that salt is usually high in mag. But when you add SPS to a already large tank you are definitely need some type of supplementation for alk and calcium.

SPS really hate a inconsistent ALK value.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13977888#post13977888 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scoobyrs25
Good info. I need a Magnesium test kit. Will I damage the corals trying to bring up the Alk to the proper level too quickly?
Click to expand...

Yes, raise it slowly, and if you're Mg is low, it may not raise at all, or very slowly. That's why it's important to monitor Mg. If it's low (800-900 ppm), alk will not want to raise. It'll be limited by the slow Mg.

If you do need to raise the Mg, buy a lot of additive. Magnesium has a very high concentration in SW, and it takes a lot of it to raise levelsâ€"and I mean a LOT...!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13977943#post13977943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paulairduck


SPS really hate a inconsistent ALK value.
Click to expand...


so how do I raise it without killing coral?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13979030#post13979030 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scoobyrs25
so how do I raise it without killing coral?
Click to expand...

Use THIS online calculator to figure out how much of your alk rasing supplement to use. Try raising .5 dKH per day at first. But if your animals and coralline are growing, they may be consuming it fast. After raising it for .5 dKH a few days, you can then raise it by .5 dKH twice per day if you're feeling lucky. But to be totally safe, .5 dKH per day is the safest route...
 
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